Back in the Bay, Got Slapped in the Face by the Dog

It's been just under a week since I've returned to Thunder Bay, and nope, I still haven't really unpacked. This means A) I have too many clothes, B) Doing my laundry before coming home actually backfired, and C) I'm leaving again in too short of a time that I don't want to put it all away, just to take it out again.  I'm home in Tbay for 10 days before heading back to "home-home" for another 7. Some of the athletes on NDC are attending the Southern Ontario Division camp to help coach and train with the Ontario's Junior athletes. I hear the camp is full with over 60 participants! It's awesome to see that so many high-school aged athletes are working at getting fitter and faster in the summer time. Can't wait to join you!

So, as per the awkward title: I went in a local race on the weekend called "Conquer the Dog." The race consisted of a 5km canoe (partners), 18km mountain bike ride on a gravel road, and 5 km run. I really had no idea what to expect. Only as boats, bikes, paddles and lifejackets were being aligned and coordinated around me did I start to get it.

The canoe...Alannah and I did the canoe portion as a team. I'd like to commend Alannah for basically learning to steer on the start line and doing one heck of a job to keep us going in a straight line. She is clearly more skilled than I in a canoe because as she directed myself with certain strokes to do, I had to inform her that she couldn't yell out strokes because I didn't know what they were.  She said with a laugh at the start, "Well, this could be a true test of our friendship..." and oh was it hilarious. First of all, 5km on the water is a LONG way! We tried so hard to hunt down Andy and Ben in a boat that was forever 20ft ahead of us, and the river bends just never ended ("the finish is around this one right?" - Nope). We sang songs to pass the time and we actually figured things out on the 2nd half of the paddle and made it work. Upon arriving at the finish, in a frenzied attempt to get the boat out of the water, I dumped Alannah in the river!... thank goodness it was at shore, but I still feel horrible! Sorry girl!

The bike... okay this is where things got a bit hairy. I didn't do the due-diligence of really riding my bike before hand and the seat was titled up slightly more than I'm assuming was good for me, so my lower back got super tight and awkward and all I could do was spin the last 5km. But there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it so I just rode it in and told myself to run fast after falling behind.

The run was the turning point. I was able to bring my legs back to life in the first km, and made up a few spots to end up 3rd in the Women's field.  Congrats to Marilyn Ailey and Alannah on #1 and #2. What a day! It was mentally and physically challenging in a lot of ways, but super super super fun at the same time. The race was really well organized, the day was beautiful, and the whole community was out to have a good, hard day.

I had a lot of people help me that day. Victor and Evan on my team took care of all the boats/paddles/lifejackets and Evan even let Alannah and I use his fast boat... even if we didn't do it justice. My roomie, Katherine let me borrow her sweet mountain bike, and upon forgetting my helmet, the Ailey family lent me theirs. Thanks everyone!

I was reminded of something too: It was very refreshing - in a weird way I guess - to be thrown into a race setting that you're unfamiliar with. It was a challenge and I think that is healthy when you're so invested in one single sport. I'm fortunate that I have a level of fitness from doing one sport that I can indeed throw myself into something else, but it makes you experience and think about racing differently again. And I had a hoot doing it!

Okay I'll be quite now... for your viewing pleasure:

My Prize! Wine to go? and 2 stemless wine glasses! I don't actually have race photos but if I dig some up I'll get them up here another day.

We made bad-ass shirts! Thank you iron-on transfers and Alannah's Dad for having bought her an ink-jet printer years ago.

Customized

Conquer the Cutie! 

A few other tidbits from the last 2 weeks...

I was able to sneak a few days at Parry Island with my Mom and we went blackberry picking! Beware: Thorn bushes will get you!

Kayaking on Georgian Bay

Landed on an island for a break

My Mom is better at selfies than I am!

I was so surprised and excited to have a few days with my best friends from home. They all surprised me at my friend's cottage and it was a much over-due reunion.  I didn't get any pictures except a beautiful Muskoka sunset.

 Backyard flower picking, they came with the place, so I had to pick-em!

Have a good week everyone!

E.

Let's Get Organized

This morning marks the close of what feels like the last 3 months. I'm at my parent's house in Horseshoe Valley after getting off the plane from Austria last night, and have that feeling like a block is over. Athletes tend to organize their lives in "blocks"... intensity block, volume block, rest week, training block... and a new one starts when another one ends. It's a way to organize your focus for what training goals needs to be accomplished next. I would consider this a big block covering many little blocks. This summer has thrown me a few curve balls and I'm actually quite proud of how I managed to duck or swerve to once again, get organized.  The first was dealing with a big ol' bummer of cancelling a 3 week training camp to Canmore, AB. I was really looking forward to training with other women and good friends in Canada but the flooding out west cancelled that trip, for the Austrian alternative. I'm pretty lucky that my team planned to go to Austria because it made it easy to turn around and get excited about something else. So we booked a flight and that was set. What can ya'do? Go to Europe!

And then my plans changed a little bit one more time. My family lost a great lady, my Grandmother, a few weeks ago. She has always been a light in our lives and full of laughter, fun and love. I was able to make it to Parry Sound before going to Austria to spend some time with my family. I learned new things about my Grandma as a young girl and loved every minute of hearing everyone's stories about her, and sharing my own. She will be remembered as a lady who was loved by everyone. This was a really special few days for me, a real treat to be able to honour her memory. Here she is...

Always up for a party! And always in bright colours!

Myself, Granda and Mom

 Out in full cheering force to watch my brother and I compete in a triathlon!

I've learned that you just gotta-go-with-it, with whatever may happen. I met up with the team a few days late and was off and skiing. There will be one more training camp before the end of the summer, and then school will begin and another training block. And then, and then, and then.... and then you can go on for days but you'll have to wait for those to stories to develop.

Here are a few last pictures from this amazing training camp....

It was a good day, got the Parrot!

I think I talked about the sun too much because we got a flash hail storm!

Ouch.

Hail and then.... another beauty day on the glacier!
"Andy, give me your best technique!"

Good night Schladming

Before take off we had a night in Munich, the "bavarian snack plate" as my meal, as well as some pancake soup and pretzels. Alannah and I vowed to at least try everything on the plate. Little did we know, after taking in a spoon full, one thing was actually a pork fat "spread" with bacon bits...whoops.

 Jack and Victor's impressive platter

I just want to say thanks to my team and coaches for a great camp, everyone worked so hard and so well to make those positive gains we need to move forward. See you all in a week-ish.

Adios!
E.

PICTURESSSSSS

Here area few snaps from the last 2ish days....

 Photo Credit: Bob Thompson

My Team!

 Photo Credit: Bob Thompson

One more time...

Another classic Dachstein shot, but really, it doesn't get old. I love how the mountains always appear in layers, like they aren't real.  Tomorrow we have been prescribed "as long as you want" on the skiing front (within reason, of course), since it's our last long day on the glacier. Time to soak up the rays!

 By a skilled photog's standards this is a terrible shot, but I like it for whatever reason.

 "The meeting spot." Meet for workouts, meet for dinner, but make it before the quarterly bells rings and you're good to go. It's actually a bench outside a small museum in the driveway of our accommodation.

We do that a lot... match.

HUh? We were at the rollerski track in Ramsau this afternoon to work through some recovery from this morning's running intensity. There is definitely a picture out there of myself completely snow-plowed, arms out, thinking I'm about the eat it, but I don't have it on hand. I'm usually pretty good on my rollerskis, but this track is CRAZY. Fast downhills and banked corners at well... every corner. Fun, but a tad bit scary. I'll try to drum up some pictures of it for the next post. 

Off to bed with me,

E.

Back to Austria I Went...Am still...In Austria

Here I am! I'm in Schladming, Austria and it's even greater than I remember. This trip marks the 4th time I've had the chance to hang out in this little mountain town and ski my brains out up on the Dachstein Glacier. The 4.5km ski loop sits at about 2600m and I think a new record has been set with the number of sunny days I've ever ha on a glacier.

My morning view 

 Still a beaut!

Selfie while waiting. My hair has grown long since we last spoke :)

I've noticed some differences with this trip. Being a ski racer brings ample opportunity to travel and see the world in a different kind of way, but you don't often chose your destination. Other than one trip to Florida with 2 girlfriends, I haven't been to a place that someone else didn't decide where I was going. Don't worry I'm sure not complaining, but it's interesting to me to visit the same, small, 7,000 populated Austrian ski town 4 times in 5 years. Who does that? A skier chasing the snow. I feel much more "at home" here than ever. Maybe it's my wise-ness kicking in (bahahah, kidding), but we're staying in Haus Katerina again, eating at the same Wintergarten for breakfast and dinner, I know which gelato shop gives you the most for your euro, great routes for afternoon runs, and where the best spot to jump in the river is. Repetitive? Not in the least! I've been able to understand more German (Assistant Coach Victor speaks it fluently so that REALLY helps), relax much easier, and enjoy the stay. Summertime is also beautiful in Austria, like a post-card-all-the-time-beautiful which is a new experience since we always have come in the fall.

Just getting going on our 4hr+ hike into the mountains. Ahh-maz-ing.

Hard to be anything but stoked!

Alannah and I (and 2 photobombers)

Yah sure... that way...we actually didn't get lost!

Backtracking a bit for you, here are some points about the last year or so, present to past:

I moved houses in TBay! I'm now living with my friend Katherine and new teammate Jenn. We scored this great house and things are quite comfortable. This move also prompts the goodbye to my teammate/roommate/friend Andrea who has moved on to other adventures in skiing and school. I wish her all the best but will miss her SOooooooo much!

awwwe a little throw back from our first year on NDC together hehehe :)

I finished up a few classes over the year, and even convinced myself to take a spring class. Many weeks later I came out another 1/2 credit ahead which marks the end of first year. I'm officially a 2nd year student at Lakehead. Wahhhooooo! I plan on taking more classes this fall.

Amongst the changes, we have a new head coach, Timo!  We've had a great start to the off-season training and the team has shaped up to be a pretty awesome bunch of 10 + 2 coaches!

Canadian Ski Nationals in March started out great, winning my second ever National medal in the club sprint relay with Mary Thompson! It was a really fun race and the prefect start to the week. My parents came out to watch and my Dad was put to work in the wax room. Many thanks to him for donating his time to our team, my Mom for all the picture taking and chauffeuring, and my Aunt Sue for coming to visit!

Open Women Silver and Challenge Girls Bronze for Team Hardwood!

NDC/Lakehead ladies all cleaned up

 Mom and Dad, love ya for all your support!

 NDC ladies from last season

I RACED IN 2 WORLD CUPS!! Yeahhhh, I'll state that one like a little kid excited about Christmas. Canada was awarded 2 weekends worth of World Cup racing and I qualified for one city-sprint in Quebec City, and another sprint in Canmore, Alberta. The racing experience was unbeatable and definitely the highlight of my season.

Quebec City sprinting action.

They had a jump? Apparently this is how you make xc-skiing exciting to the general public.

Fast-forward again, we have a few more days in Austria before heading home. I'll be making a pit stop at home to spend some QT with my family and friends before heading back to Thunder Bay. Can't wait since I really don't get to see them as much as I'd like to!

Auf Wiedersehen! (goodbye/see you again)
Erin

PS. I really do have more to write about, but I thought it would only be fair to give you a warm up after such a long hiatus... that's all I'll say about that.